Railway track gauge



June 2, 1936.

A. MAUZIN RAILWAY TRACK GAUGE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 19, 1935 June2, 1936. A, E, MAUZIN I 2,042,614

RAILWAY TRACK GAUGE Filed Jan. 19, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTUR" Indra512:.52 flz gz y/ Arm/way A. E. MAUZIN RAILWAY TRACK GAUGE Filed Jan.19, 19:55

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 A7TORNEY Patented June 2, 1936 UNITED STATES RAILWAYTRACK GAUGE Andi- Ernest Mauzin, Paris, France Application January 19,1933, Serial No. 652,576

- In France November 28, 1932 a '7 Claims.

The present invention relates to a device for measuring the gauge ofrailway track and the out-of-line of the rails in a horizontal plane bya position of contact with the rail when for any reason the shoe hasslipped over the rail toward the exterior.

Fig. 3a is a perspective view of the shoe which is brought into contactwith the rail.

Fig. 3b is a similar View of a shoe positioned in its support in whichit may be oscillated.

Fig. 3c is another corresponding view of the shoe and its supportpositioned on a carriage.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a modification which provides for theoscillation of the shoe and the bringing of the same out of contact withthe rail.

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic arrangement of apparatus for measuring thegauge of the rails.

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic arrangement of apparatus for measuring the outof line of a rail of a railway track.

Each shoe comprises a rail-contacting element I (Fig. 1) which is lightand of small Width, and is carried by a carriage 3 (Fig. 1) movable in adirection at right angles to the rail on a frame 5 (Fig. 1) fixed to theframe of the vehicle carrying the apparatus. A spring 6 (Fig. 1) pullsthe carriage towards the rail.

As shown in Fig. 2, means are provided for moving the carriage 3 in adirection toward the right after it has been moved to its extremelefthand position. Movement of the carriage to the right of Fig. 2 isefiected by means of a chain 111. or other transmission element whichconnects the carriage with the movable element of a shifting mechanismcontained in the housing h. The shifting mechanism may consist of anelectromagnetic device or of a piston movable in a cylinder bycompressed air, the flow of which is electrically controlled. In eitherevent, control of the shifting mechanism is efiected electrically bymeans of the electrical circuit including the contact 32 and theshiftable rodb.

The frame 5 is electrically connected by conductor k with one terminalof the shifting mechanism in housing It and the other terminal isconnected by conductor i, battery g and conductor f with one end of thesliding rod b. The other end of the rod b carries a contact e which isadapted to be moved into engagement with the contact point 32 mounted onframe 5, thereby completing the circuit. Movement of the rod 1) iseffected by engagement of a projection a car--v ried on the carriage 3with projections c and (1 formed on the rod b. In operation, upon thecarriage 3 being moved to its extreme left position by means ofthe'spring 6, the projection a on carriage 3 engages the projection c onthe rod b and moves the latter to bring contact point e into conductiveengagement with the contact point 32. Upon thus completing the controlcircuit, the shifting mechanism is actuated to cause the carriage 3 tobe moved to its extreme righthand position. When the carriage 3 is movedto its extreme right-hand position, the projection a. on the carriageengages the projection d on the rod b and shifts the rod bto itsrighthand position, breaking the connection between contact points e and32. Upon thus breaking the circuit, the shifting mechanism isdeenergized and the spring 6 will draw the carriage 3 to a positionwhereby the shoe I will again en e the side of the rail. In passing overthe rail, the rail-contacting shoe pivots about a horizontal pin 8(Fig. 1) provided for this purpose and passes above the rail. Therail-contacting element then descends again and bears against a stop 10(Fig. 1).

In addition to this possible displacement of. the rail-contactingelement, a displacement of the said element in the vertical plane isalso provided, so that if the necessity arises,. it may be withdrawnwithin the clearance limit prescribed on railways, that is to say, to apredetermined distance above the plane of the rollingsurface of therails. The said displacement may-be effected by means of a displacementof the rail-contacting element relatively to' the carriage or of thecarriage relatively to the frame of the car.

In the case where the rail-contacting element is displaced relative tothe carriage, the railcontacting element carries two pins l2, l3 (Fig.30.) serving to support it within a casing M (Fig. 3b), where it is heldin its lower position by means of springs l5, I6 (Fig. 3b).

Inv the first place, it will be seen that in order to move therail-contacting element out of its normal vertical position, it isnecessary to apply a certain minimum effort thereon which will overcomethe force exerted by the springs l5 and I6 and that, secondly, if thesaid effort is exceeded,

Bracing rods and 88 impart rigidity to The ends of members 2| connectedthe frame. to the pins l1 and I8 are enlarged and provided with boreswhich serve as bearings to receive said pins. It will be noted from Fig.3c that 'at the joint connecting the joined ends of 'members 2|, j thereis provided an enlargement having a bore.

22 therein. As shown in Fig. 6, a guiderod 82 passes through the bore 22for guiding the carriage in its travel. In addition, it will be notedthat the pins l1 and I8 serve as axles for pulleys 23 and 24,respectively, which roll one pair of rails 83', clearly shown in Fig. 6.

In order to maintain the rail-contacting element in a vertical position,a stop linkage is provided. As shown in Fig. 30, this linkage con-, I9carried by a rod. I8 which, in turn, is supported by the carriage{members 2|. A second link 28 is supported by sists of a vertical link arod 20' which is also carried by the members 2| of the carriage. Thelower free ends of the. links H) and 28 are connected by a link 84, oneend of which is adapted to engage the casing M of the rail-contactingmember. *A spring 85 has one end connected to a rod 86 supported by themembers. 2i and has its other end connected to a pin 8'! 'carriedb'y thelink 84. The rod 86 and pin 81 are so positioned that the spring tendsto shift the link 84 to the lef of Fig. 3a.. In order.

to prevent link 84 under the action of spring 85 from shifting thecasing |4 toward the left of Fig. 3c beyond a vertical position, link281s pro-.

vided with a projection 88 which cooperatesrwith -':an extension 84 oflink 84. By engagement of the projection 88 with projection 84 theshifting.

of bar 34 toward the left of Fig. under the action of spring 85 islimited. However, the shifting of link 84 to the right of Fig. 3c is notlimited; and is resisted by the action of spring 85.

for any reason, during the operation of the device the rail-contactingelement is shifted to the right, the stop linkage will give under theaction of spring 85 and permit shifting to the right. The spring 85,however, normally exerts a sufficient force to maintain therail-contacting element in a vertical position.

j'In' the case where the carriage is moved relatively to the frame ofthe car, the rail-contacting element carries two rods 55 and56 which arethe axles oftwo pulleys 51 and 58 (Fig. 4).

framework constituted by four rods 55, so, 6 I, and 62 (Fig. 4) The saidframework is guided verti- -cally at both ends by supports 80 fixed tothe frame 8| of the vehicle and 'is urged downwardly I mtcon-tactingelement is held in the vertical position by means of a stop linkage 18,1| similar to that shown in Fig. 3. V

' 'A'fiexible tube (notfshown) carries oil between the rail-contactingelement and the rail and en-' 75* sures continuous lubrication.

The' said two pulleys are adapted torun within a.

The measurement of the gauge or distance between the rails is effectedas follows (see Fig. 5)

Two shoes running on one and the same frame at right angles to the axisof the track rub against each rail. The variation in the distancebetween the rails is given by the variation in the distance between theshoes.

In the case in which the frame supporting the shoes undergoes a relativedisplacement with respect to the recording apparatus recording the gaugeof the track (for example, in the case in which the shoes are mounted onthe frame of the bogie or truck and the recording apparatus is mountedon the body of the vehicle), the following device may be employed.

A cable connects the two carriages and passes over the pulleys 25, 26,21, 28, 29, 30. A spring fixed to the body of the vehicle urges thepulley 21 and draws the carriages towards the exterior of the track bymeans of the cable.

The pulleys 25, 26, 28, 30. are fixed to the frame supporting thecarriage, while the pulley 28 is held at an invariable vertical distancefrom the recording apparatus by means of a bar fixed by one end to therecording apparatus by means of a universal joint, and sliding by theother endv in a guide fixed to the frame of the apparatus proper.

The vertical displacement of the pulley 21 relatively to the body of thevehicle gives half the variation in the distance between the rails.

,The recording of the out-of-line of the rails in the horizontal planeis effected as follows (see. Fig. 6):

Three shoes rub on one and the samerail. A

cable starting from the shoe 4| passes over the pulleys 50, 5| and isfixed to one end 44 of'a; lever. A cable starting from the shoe 42passes over the pulleys 54, 55 and is fixed to the other end 46 of thesame lever. A cable 43' starting from the shoe 43 passes over thepulleys 52, 53, traverses the same lever at the point 45, passes insidea Bowden sheath 48 and is finally drawn by a spring. 49. The stylus S iscarried by cable 43 which serves to shift the same over the record sheetto trace a curve thereon.

The ratio of the distance between the points 44, 46 to the distancebetween thepoints 45, 46 is equal to the ratio of the distance betweenthe shoes 4|, 42 to the distance between the shoes 42, 43.

The Bowden sheath is connected at one end to the lever at the point 45and at the other end to a fixed point on the recording apparatus. Sincethe fixed end of ,the sheath 48 is on the record support, relativemovement between the cable 43' and sheath will cause stylus S to moveover the record sheet. The end of sheath 48 attached to lever 4446 isfree to move with. said lever.

With this arrangement, movement of all shoes 4|, 42, and 43 in the samedirection will produce a movement of lever 44-46, but so long as thereis no relative out-of-line movement between the shoes the stylus S willnot be moved.

The entire structure is mounted on the platform 89 of a car. 7 7

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my saidinvention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare thatwhat I claim is: V v

1. An apparatus for obtaining an indication of the out-'of-line of arailway rail and transmitting the indication to arecordingstation,comprising side of the rail and adapted tobe shiftedlaterally by defects in the alignment of the rail, means fortransmitting movement of the two outside shoes to two ends of a floatinglever, a Bowden sheath having one end connected to the fulcrum of thelever, and a wire passing through said sheath having one end connectedto the central shoe and the other end attached to an anchored spring, astylus attached to said wire adjacent its point of connection to thespring, the other end of said Bowden sheath being connected to arecord-support over which said stylus moves.

2. An apparatus for obtaining an indication of the out-of-line of arailway rail and transmitting the indication to a recording station,comprising three spaced shoes supported in contact with one side of therail and adapted to be shifted laterally by defects in the alignment ofthe rail, means for transmitting movement of the two outside shoes totwoends of a floating lever, a Bowden sheath having one end connected tothe fulcrum of the lever, a wire passing through said sheath having oneend connected to the central shoe and the other end attached to ananchored spring, a stylus attached to said wire adjacent its point ofconnection to the spring, the other end of said Bowden sheath beingconnected to a record support over which said stylus moves, resilientmeans urging said shoes against the side of the rail, and means operableupon slipping of a shoe over the rail for returning it to its operativeposition.

3. An apparatus for obtaining an indication of the out-of-line of arailway rail and transmitting the indication to a recording station,comprising three spaced shoes supported in contact with one side of therail and adapted to be shifted laterally by defects in the alignment ofthe rail, means for transmitting movement of the two outside shoes totwo ends of a floating lever, a Bowden sheath having one end connectedto the fulcrum of the lever, a wire passing through said sheath havingone end connected to the central shoe and the other end attached to ananchored spring, a stylus attached to said wire adjacent its point ofconnection to the spring, the other end of said Bowden sheath beingconnected to a record support over which said stylus moves, each of saidshoes being vertically slidably mounted in swinging supports mounted onlaterally movable carriages, and resilient means urging said shoesdownward relative to said supports.

4. An apparatus for obtaining an indication of the out-of-line of arailway rail and transmitting the indication to a recording station,comprising three spaced shoes supported in contact with one side of therail and adapted to be shifted laterally by defects in the alignment ofthe rail, means for transmitting movement of the two outside shoes totwo ends of a floating lever, a Bowden sheath having one end connectedto the fulcrum of the lever, and a wire passing through said sheathhaving one end connected to the central shoe and the other end attachedto an anchored spring, a stylus attached to said wire adjacent its pointof connection to the spring, the other end of said Bowden sheath beingconnected to a record support over which said stylus moves, each of saidshoes being laterally slidably mounted in carriages positioned forvertical oscillation.

5. An apparatus for obtaining an indication of the out-of-line of arailway rail and transmitting the indication to a recording station,comprising three spaced shoes supported in contact with one side of therail and adapted to be shifted laterally by defects in the alignment ofthe rail, means for transmitting movement of the two outside shoes totwo ends of a floating lever, a Bowden sheath having one end connectedto the fulcrum of the lever, a wire passing through said sheath havingone end connected to the central shoe and the other end attached to ananchoredspring, a stylus attached to said wire adjacent its point ofconnection to the spring, the other end of said Bowden sheath beingconnected to a record support over which said stylus moves, a laterallymovable carriage supporting each shoe, resilient means urging thecarriage to a position to bring the shoe into contact with one side ofthe rail, and means operable upon slipping of the shoe over the rail forenergizing a motor for returning the carriage to its operative position.

6. An apparatus for obtaining an indication of the out-of-line of arailway rail and transmitting the indication to a recording station,comprising three spaced shoes supported in contact with one side of therail and adapted to be shifted laterally by defects in the alignment ofthe rail, means for transmitting movement of the two outside shoes totwo ends of a floating lever, a Bowden sheath having one end connectedto the fulcrum of the lever, a wire passing through said sheath havingone end connected to the central shoe and the other end attached to ananchored spring, a stylus attached to said wire adjacent its point ofconnection to the spring, the other end of said Bowden sheath beingconnected to a record support over which said stylus moves, a laterallymovable carriage supporting each shoe, resilient means urging thecarriage to a position to bring the shoe into contact with one side ofthe rail, means operable upon slipping of the shoe over the rail forcompleting an electric circuit to effect movement of the carriageagainst the resilient means, and means operable upon moving of thecarriage to an extreme position for breaking the electrical circuit andthereby permitting the carriage to be returned by the resilient means toits operative position.

'7. An apparatus for obtaining an indication of the out-of-line of arailway rail and transmitting the indication to a recording station,comprising three spaced shoes supported in contact with one side of therail and adapted to be shifted laterally by defects in the alignment ofthe rail, means for transmitting movement of the two outside shoes totwo ends of a floating lever, a Bowden sheath having one end connectedto the fulcrum of the lever, a wire passing through said sheath havingone end connected to the central shoe and the other end attached to ananchored spring, a stylus attached to said wire adjacent its point ofconnection to the spring, the other end of said Bowden sheath beingconnected to a record support over which said stylus moves, a verticallymovable carriage for each shoe having laterally extending tracks formedthereon, a frame for supporting a shoe, and means for movably mountingsaid shoe supporting frame for lateral movement on the tracks of saidcarriage.

ANDRE ERNEST MAUZIN.

